What's your job about?

My role as an analyst in Jarden’s investment banking division provides access to the inner workings of the corporate landscape. Broadly speaking, an investment banker assists clients with transactions and provides insights to drive strategic success. We ensure that we have comprehensive information as to the current state of markets and use this experience to drive the growth and profitability of client businesses. My role is to facilitate actioning our insights into deliverables which can then be used to execute market-leading deals.

Projects that investment bankers work on range from strategic reviews for companies looking to position themselves for future success, and directly assisting companies looking to undertake a merger or acquisition. I work with a team who have extensive experience across all aspects of the financial realm, and their guidance has been invaluable to my professional growth.

What's your background?

I finished high school in Auckland in 2016, before moving to Sydey to complete my tertiary studies. I graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering (Honors) and Commerce (Finance) in 2022. I originally started studying for a double degree in engineering and project management, however, I quickly realized that project management was not a career that I wanted to pursue. I had not considered investment banking as a career path until midway through my degree, when I discovered that my skills at problem-solving could not only be applied to engineering but to the numerous financial challenges that companies face. 

I was lucky enough to land an internship as a trader at Optiver, a high-frequency trading firm. I was then able to spend a summer working at UBS in their investment banking team and spend a year working part-time at TDM Growth Partners as I completed my studies. Each of these experiences gave me a new set of skills that I have been able to bring with me, as well as different lenses through which to analyze problems.

Could someone with a different background do your job?

For sure. An investment banking analyst does not require a particular niche skillset. A financial background is advantageous, and a baseline level of financial knowledge is essential to getting through the application process, but attitude is more important. The majority of the skills necessary to be a great analyst are learned on the job, so an open mindset and a willingness to learn are key. I had a number of holes in my knowledge when I started, however, the team around me was extremely supportive and happy to take the time to explain concepts and rationale as I built up my fundamentals.

What's the coolest thing about your job?

The coolest thing about my job is the tight-knit team that I work with. Particularly in investment banking, where we can work long hours, being surrounded by like-minded people who are working towards the same goals has been great. There are plenty of opportunities to take a break from the hectic time on the banking floor, from the morning coffee runs to the team dinners. The senior bankers are also amazing mentors, with a doors-open policy to encourage questions.

What are the limitations of your job?

The role of an analyst requires a large investment of time and focus to produce quality outputs. A top analyst has to be able to manage their workload, maintain attention to detail, and stay agile as things can change in a short space of time. These can sometimes be challenging, particularly in periods of high intensity where the hours can be long. This occasionally makes it difficult to maintain a work-life balance, however, I have found the personal and professional growth to be worth it.

3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...

• Look to upskill where you can. I never really appreciated how much spare time I had as a student, and there were definitely things that I could have picked up to round out my skillset. I don’t think they necessarily have to be work-related, but self-teaching something is a great skill to have, and you never know when it might become handy.
• Don’t take life too seriously. It can become quite easy to become overwhelmed when you see peers achieving so much around you, but I would argue that being able to have fun at university is still beneficial in the long run. Building up a strong network of friends as well as broader life experiences can be worth sacrificing some time.
• Say yes - There are very few instances in life where failure has so minimal of a consequence, so I would encourage a ‘yes’ mindset. Being open to new opportunities and new experiences can take you in directions that you never thought existed, and it is sometimes here that the gems can be found. While academics are undoubtedly important, being able to show all-roundedness is also valuable.